Garter belt



June 21, 1966 M. 1... SCOTT 3, 3

GARTER BELT Filed Feb. 24, 1954 United States Patent 3,256,530 GARTER BELT Mary L. Scott, Lucas County, Ohio, assignor to Jobst Institute, Inc., Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Feb. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 346,669 5 Claims. (Cl. 2314) The present invention relates to improvements in a garter belt specifically devised for the support of a full length elastic surgical stocking worn on only one leg. More particularly, the invention pertains to an elastic garter belt for the improved support of .the stocking to insure that the belt will not be disproportionately pulled down on its stocking-engaging side as the result primarily of fiexure of the knee.

Such vertical displacement of a garter belt worn by a female to support a full length surgical hose can be readily prevented by the simple expedient of attaching the garter belt side opposite the stocking side to the wearers nylon hose, thereby distributing the downward pull on the garter belt roughly equally to the garter belt and hips. However, a problem is presented in the case of an elastic garter beltdesigned for wear by a male to support only one full length elastic stocking; and to my knowledge garter belts previously devised for this purpose fail to prevent the undesirable eflfect of disproportionate downward pull by the single stocking.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved garter belt which in itself embodies all provisions necessary to forestall the objectionable result mentioned above.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a garter belt which, in addition to a three-panel rear structure and a two-panel front structure, all panels of which are designed and proportioned to provide a snug and trim elastic encirclement of the wearers hips and lower abdomen and back zones, employs improved elastic strap means to transfer the pull of the elastic stocking to other points of the garter belt than the points at which the latter is directly attached to the full length stocking. 7

Still more particularly, this is done by stitching a pair of longitudinally elastic straps to the two panels composing the front panel structure of the garment to extend from front and side garter clasps or fasteners of that panel structure on diagonal lines to points of attachment located respectively at a top front and side area and a top front and central area of the garter belt. Thus the downward pull from the stocking is distributed laterally and upwardly in a direction toward the non-stocking side of the garment, with the result that the garter belt stays in place on its stocking-attached side. 7

Still further, in a preferred and illustrated embodiment of the improved garter belt, the action of the front, diagonally directed elastic straps mentioned above is signifi-.

cantly augmented and improved by the provision of a third similar elastic strap attached to the three-panel rear structure of the garment. This strap extends from a garter clasp adjacent a side of the last named structure in a direction diagonally upwardly to a point of attachment to the rear structure adjacent the opposite or non-stocking side of the latter. Thus, the overall downward pull of the stocking on the garter belt is distributed in a substantially equal manner about the garment at six points, i.e., at a front and substantially central top point, at a front top and side point, at a rear top and approximately side point and, of course, at the three bottom locations at which front, side and rear zones of the garment are adapted to have direct supporting connection to the elastic stocking through the agency of the usual garter clasps or fasteners.

Patented June 21, 1966 In another specific respect, the invention provides a girdle-like belt arrangement or construction in which the two panels comprising the front structure of the garment cross one another in the manner of a sarong and are directly seamed to the three rear panel structure along upright seams at the side hip lines. In this arrangement one diagonal front, pull-distributing elastic strap extends laterally and upwardly from the front stocking clasp, being stitched to the front of the innermost of the two front panels and terminating at or closely adjacent the top of the opposite hip line seam; the second front strap extending from the side garter clasp, being also stitched along the inner front panel and ending in a top, approximately central zone of the latter; and the rear diagonal elastic strap being secured quite closely adjacent the stocking side hip line seam to extend laterally and upwardly to a top-connection at or'closely adjacent the first named, nonstocking side, hip line seam.

Further in accordance with the invention, the pulldistributing straps of the garter belt also serve the function of supporting the garter clasps or fasteners, the

straps being formed at their ends to provide loops in which i the clasps are hung.

More generally, it is an object to provide an improved garter belt comprised of panels and pull-distributing, equalizing elastic straps, which, as stitched and seamed to one another in the manner described, provide a garment which has its parts firmly anchored at front, side and rear areas against displacement in relation to one another, other than as the consequence of natural elastic stretch, thereby providing the stable distribution of stocking pull basically contemplated by the invention.

The foregoing'as well as other objects will become more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational View of the improved garter belt garment in a flat condition, conventional garter clasps or fasteners having been omitted for simplicity;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the garter belt in the same condition; and

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the garter belt as worn and supporting an elastic surgical hose, certain front panel components being broken away to more clearly show the arrangement of the elastic pull-distributing and equalizing straps.

The garter belt of the inveniton, generally designated -10, essentially comprises a rear panel structure 12 made up (as best shown in FIG. 2) of three panel parts, namely a central rear panel 14, and a pair of side rear panels 15, 16; and the two-panel front structure of a sarong-like geenral design, which front structure is generally desig: nated by the reference numeral 18 and will hereinafter be described in greater detail. 4

The panels 14, 15, 16 are contoured as to shape and fullness to snugly and firmly encircle the male wearers body in an elastic grip, the side rear panels 15, 16 being I mated to the central panel 14 and stitched to opposite sides of the latter along generally vertical seam lines 17. Rear side panels 15, 16 are in turn seamed to the front panel structure 18 along the respective upright and bodyconforming seams 20, 21, which follow the opposite sidemost hip lines of the wearer.

A longitudinally elastic top gird-1e band or tape 22 encircles the front and rear panel structures 18, .12, respectively, at the waist line or margin of the latter, being firmly stitched along the tops of the respective component panels thereof; and a similar elastic band or tape 24 is stitched about the bottom margins of all panels, and in a manner to be more particularly described in reference to the front elastic panel structure 18, at the bottom hip line. Front, side and rear stocking supports, clasps or fasteners 26, 27 and 28, respectively, are disposed to extend downwardly from the garment adjacent one side of the latter, these elements being preferably suspended, pursuant to the invention, by means of the pull-distributing elastic straps of the latter, as will be described.

The elastic front panel structure 18 is, as best illustrated in FIG. 3, essentially comprised of an outer front panel 30 of substantial width, in the top-to-bottom sense, which extends from a lower connection to the rear panel 15, along the side hip line seam 20 at the side of the garter belt opposite the clasps or fasteners 26, 27, 28, to an upper connection along the hip line seam 21 at the opposite side of the belt.

The front panel structure 18 is completed by a second, inner panel 3-2 generally similar to the inner panel 30. It extends from a lower front anchored connection to the side hip line seam 21 to an upper connection at hip line seam 20 on the opposite, non-stocking side of the garter belt.

The front panels 30, 32 are of lesser vertical width than the rear panel structure 12, but have a substantial length or distance of vertical overlap on one another where they are both seamed to the rear panel structure 12 along the side seams 2t), 21. The front panels 30, 32,

in diagonally crossing one another, are stitched along substantially one-half of their respective lengths to the bottom of the top elastic tape or band 22 and to the top of the bottom corresponding tape or band 24, there being limited, generally central lengths of the panels 30, 32 at which they overlap at the tops and bottoms thereof and are there stitched, in a double resultant thickness to the respective waist and hip encircling elastic bands 22, 24.

All of the panels 14, 15, 16, and 32 are similarly fabricated of an appropriate elastic stretch material, such as a known type of power net comprised of elastomeric filaments covered by a suitable fabric. In the particular subject garment, these panels have major stretchability in the direction in which they extend horizontally or generally horizontal, and a lesser degree of elasticity in the opposite or generally vertical direction. However, the selection of the material will, of course, be subject to alteration as desired and/or dictated by the particular considerations of performance required by the garter belt.

In further and more specific accordance with the invention, a longitudinal elastic strap 34 is stitched in a diagonal lateral and upward direction along the center of the innermost panel 30 of the front panel structure 18. The lowermost end of this strap 34 is looped at 35 to provide a support for the front garter clasp or fastener 26 (shown in FIG. 3, along with the side and rear clasps, 27, 28, as operatively engaged with the elastic stocking S); and strap 34 is firmly stitched at the loop 35 both to the bottom tape or band 24 and to the seam at which the latter is stitched to front panel structure 18. From this stitched connection adjacent the front center of structure 18 the strap 34 extends continuously upwardly and sidewise, free of intersection or interruption, to a top terminal connection to the band 22 adjacent the side hip line seam 20, being stitched firmly along its length to the inner front panel 32, as best appears in FIG. 3.

Similarly, though in a laterally displaced position, a second pull-distributing elastic strap 36 extends diagonally continuously and without intersection across the front of the inner front panel 32, and approximately parallel to strap 34, being firmly stitched to the latter along its length, the strap 36 commencing at a bottom clasp supporting loop 38 for the side clasp 27 to a stitched connection to the top elastic strap or band 22, approximately horizontally central of the latter, or at the zone to which the tops of the panels 30, 32 are stitched to the strap in question.

Finally, a third pull-distributing elastic strap 40 extends from a bottom clasp loop 42 for rear clasp 28 diagonally upwardly, and approximately parallel to straps 34, 36 (as viewed in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), to a point rather closely adjacent the opposite side hip line seam 20, being stitched at its bottom and top to the bands 24, 22, respectively. As shown in the drawing, the rear strap 36 is firmly stitched and anchored along its diagonal length to the outer surface of the central panel 14 and side panel 15 of rear structure 12.

It is seen from the foregoing that the invention affords an improved garment 10 which is basically stable in that its elastic components are firmly united to one another along upright and horizontal seam connections, thus resisting uncontrolled lateral shift of the panels, 14, 15, 16, 30, 32, bands or tapes 22, 24, and straps 34, 36, 40 relative to one another. The only relative movements which take place are those attributable to the elasticity of the garment 10 as a whole.

The nature and qualities of elasticity of the front and rear panels of the belt garment have been mentioned above. The straps 34, 36 and 40 may be of a similar elastic fabric, cut with its major elasticity running in the direction of the strap length. The top and bottom body encircling straps or tapes 22, 24 are preferably of a one way stretch fabric, the elasticity thereof being longitudinal in the direction of the respective tapes, these members having a substantially greater degree of elasticity than the other panel and strap components.

Furthermore, the straps 34, 36 and 40 effectively transfer the pullload imposed by elastic stocking S from its local points of imposition at the loops 35, 38 and 42 adjacent one side of the garment to well distributed points on diagonally opposed locations about the top of the garment. Consequently, the pull as a whole is effectively and uniformly distributed throughout six places, other than as being absorbed by the component panels to which straps 34, 36 and 40 are stitched along the respective lengths thereof.

Thus the improved garter belt garment 10 is able to do an excellent job of supporting only a single full length elastic stocking S of a male wearer, which has always been an unsolved problem. Pull-distributing forces are transferred diagonally along lines well within the side, top and bottom limits of the loosely connected front panels 30 and 32, with these panels in turn taking part in the distributive and equalizing action of the belt. The garment is inexpensively fabricated of available material-s commonly used in surgical garments or similar constructions; and it is deemed that the garment will satisfy a long-felt need in this field.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A garter belt for the support of a stocking in a manner to distribute stocking pull exerted locally on the belt from adjacent one side only of the latter, comprising front and rear panel structures connected to one another along upright seams, an elastic strap extending diagonally across said front panel between opposite sides thereof, said strap having diagonally opposite end termini secured to the panel adjacent laterally opposite top and bottom margins of the latter, and a stocking-engaging garter member carried by said front panel structure adjacent and substantially at the lower terminus of said strap.

2. A garter belt for the support of a stocking in a manner to distribute stocking pull exerted locally on the belt from adjacent one side only of the latter, comprising front and rear panel structures connected to one another along upright seams, diagonal elastic straps extending substantially free of intersection across said respective panel structures in generally similar diagonal directions, said straps having diagonally opposite end termini secured to the respective structures adjacent laterally opposite top and bottom sides of the latter and in substantially spaced lateral relation to one another, and stocking-engaging garter members carried by said belt adjacent and substantially at the lower termini of said respective straps, each garter member having a direct connection to a lower strap terminus.

3. A garter belt for the support of a stocking in a manner to distribute stocking pull exerted locally on the belt from adjacent one side only of the latter, comprising front and rear panel structures connected to one another along upright seams extending gene-rally along the outer side hip lines of the belt as Worn, there being two front panels in the front panel structure extending generally diagonally and in crossing relation to one another from upright connections of substantial length to said rear panel structure at the respective hip line seams, longitudinally elastic straps extending diagonally in general parallelism to one another and substantially free of intersection across said front panels, said straps having opposite end termini secured to the belt adjacent laterally opposite top and bottom sides of the respective panels and in substantially spaced lateral relation to one another, and stocking-engaging garter members carried by said belt adjacent and substantially at the lower termini of said respective straps.

4. A garter belt for the support of a stocking in a manner to distribute stocking pull exerted locally on the belt adjacent only one lower side zone thereof to a place in proximity with a laterally opposite upper side zone, comprising a body-encircling structure providing front and rear panel portions between said zones, an elastic strap extending diagonally across at least one of said panel portions between opposite sides thereof, said strap having opposite end termini secured to said structure adjacent said lower and upper zones, respectively, and

means to secure a stocking-engaging garter member to said structure adjacent and substantially at the lower strap terminus.

5. A garter belt for the support of a stocking in a manner to distribute stocking pull exerted locally on the belt adjacent only one lower side zone thereof to a place in proximity with' a laterally opposite upper side zone, comprising an elastic body-encircling structure providing front and rear panel portions between said zones, a plurality of elastic straps extending diagonally and substantially free of intersection across each of said panel portions, said straps approximately paralleling one another and each having opposite end termini secured to one of said panel portions adjacent said lower and upper zones,

' respectively, and means to secure a stocking-engaging garter member to said panel portions adjacent and substantially at the lower strap termini.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 812,120 2/1906 Digney 128-535 2,445,322 7/ 1948 Fridolph 128-548 2,860,640 11/ 1958 Clark 128--540 3,142,302 7/ 1964 Schonberg 128548 X FOREIGN PATENTS 896,267 4/ 1944 France.

1,125,814 7/1956 France.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

M. I. COLITZ, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A GARTER BELT FOR THE SUPPORT OF A STOCKING IN A MANNER TO DISTRIBUTE STOCKING PULL EXERTED LOCALLY ON THE BELT FROM ADJACENT ONE SIDE ONLY OF THE LATTER, COMPRISING FRONT AND REAR PANEL STRUCTURES CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER ALONG UPRIGHT SEAMS, AN ELASTIC STRAP EXTENDING DIAGONALLY ACROSS SAID FRONT PANEL BETWEEN OPPOSITE SIDES THEROF, SAID STRAP HAVING DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE END TERMINI SECURED TO THE PANEL ADJACENT LATERALLY OPPOSITE TOP AND BOTTOM MARGINS OF THE LATTER, AND A STOCKING-ENGAGING GARTER MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID FRONT PANEL STRUCTURE ADJACENT AND SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE LOWER TERMINUS OF SAID STRAP. 